Chemical Industry Regulations
Advance in the EU Parliament

BRUSSELS -- A contentious proposal to tighten regulation of the European chemicals industry advanced in the European Parliament yesterday, setting the stage for a larger battle in November.

In a vote with mixed results, Parliament's environmental committee -- the lead panel on the chemicals proposal -- voted to ease requirements for health-and-safety tests on chemicals made in low-volume rates of one to 10 tons annually, angering environmental groups. But the panel backed a plan to require chemicals makers -- including...